[thscott]

Greetings. I just discovered this forum and this is my first post. I have an old Seiko Quartz 3003 watch that I have worn everyday since I received it in 1977. It was a high school graduation gift from my parents. It works fine and has had zero service.

I love the blue face and the cut (faceted) glass crystal - which is now very scratched.

Model 4823-8039. S/N 690168

Now to my questions.

I was wondering if the cut glass crystal can be replaced? Is there a source for a replacement crystal? I assume the scratches and abrasions in the glass can not be polished out.

How would I go about having the crystal replaced? DIY? Send the watch someplace?

Thank you for indulging me.

I am sure I will have additional questions.

Best regards.

 

[JohnWN]

:welcome: to SCWF! :great: That sounds like a real legacy 3003 you have there and, no doubt, someone here can tip you off about a new crystal. Now, how about some photos of it??


How to Post Photos

 

[TheTigerUK]

Hi and welcome.


According to my case book you require crystal number 300W80GC and Cousins UK show they have stock, £22.60 + VAT + Shipping.

 

[thscott]

Thank you both very much. I appreciate the warm welcome. I have attempted to attach 2 photos of my Seiko 4823-8039 here. Hopefully they appear.
(Note: I no longer have the original band.)


I appreciate the lead on the crystal. How can I contact Cousins UK?


Thanks again.

 

[time]

HI!


just go here:


https://www.cousinsuk.com


and enter the part number John gave you in the search box, you might have to register first.

 

[thscott]

Thanks again.


Another question: How do I determine the case number of my watch? I believe I have the "snap back" case, as opposed to the one-piece case.

I am thinking if I order a new glass crystal, I should also order a new glass gasket/seal; and perhaps a battery hatch seal and a case back seal. The Cousins site parts search function seems to require a "Hattori" watch case number.

Is the case number the same as the model number? (4823-8039)

This is forum is wonderful. I was able to find a pdf of the parts list and the technical guide for Cal. 4823A. I also found listings of crystals referenced to various case numbers.

 

[Dutchsiberia]

Nice watch the format is calibernumber-casenumber so the second number is the case number.

 

[SurfingSeiko]

:bravo_2: Welcome to the forum. Beautiful Seiko. :great: Looks like you got your questions answered. :bravo_2:

Mark

 

[peacemaker885]

HI and welcome. A testament to the durability of these timepieces.

 

[thscott]

I found the original, failed band that came with my 1976 Seiko. See attached three photos. The band broke at one of the links/segments which does not have a removable pin. I have no idea how these "permanent" hinged links are actually assembled, as each link has two fixed pins that insert into holes on the adjoining piece. It does not appear to me that this band can be repaired, as it it not one of the removable segments that has failed. The failure is one of the little holes that the fixed hinge pin fits into tore out.


So I am searching for an identical replacement band. The only number I can find on the band is on each of the rolled metal end covers. The number is very hard to read but appears to be either Z 075 or 2 075. The only other marking on the band is the underside of the clasp is stamped: "All Stainless Steel Japan Z".


My attempts to find this band on the internet (including eBay) have been unsuccessful so far.


Any help that you can provide would be most appreciated.


Thank you.

P.S., I ordered the crystal from CousinsUK and am waiting for it to arrive.

 

[thscott]

I received the replacement crystal from CousinsUK. It looks to be exactly what I need. I was not able to locate or purchase any gaskets. I am ready to have the crystal installed. Can I take it to any good watch repair person near where I live, or do you recommend I send it to a Seiko authorized repair shop? I'd prefer not to ship it anywhere. Is it as simple as removing the bezel and installing the new crystal? Is the crystal glued in? Can the crystal be replaced without installing a new gasket seal?

Thank you.

 

[rileynp]

I received the replacement crystal from CousinsUK. It looks to be exactly what I need. I was not able to locate or purchase any gaskets. I am ready to have the crystal installed. Can I take it to any good watch repair person near where I live, or do you recommend I send it to a Seiko authorized repair shop? I'd prefer not to ship it anywhere. Is it as simple as removing the bezel and installing the new crystal? Is the crystal glued in? Can the crystal be replaced without installing a new gasket seal?

Thank you.

The assembly of this case is not straight-forward, and I can see many potential pitfalls awaiting someone who is not familiar with the construction as force must be used to disassemble and reassemble the case.
There is no glue involved, rather the crystal is installed into the bezel from the inside, but only after the bezel is removed from the case. One cannot pry the bezel out, it must be pushed out from the inside (which requires exactly the right sized dies). Both a rubber crystal gasket and a plastic bezel gasket are disturbed during this process and should be replaced to ensure water resistance. If one is lucky the watch can go back together using the old gaskets, but they necessarily won't be doing as good a job of holding things together as new, unused gaskets. If one is unlucky, the gaskets (particularly the plastic bezel gasket) will be deformed from the process enough that it won't allow proper seating of the bezel in the case. I'd take it to the best watchmaker you can find and who is willing to take on a potentially risky replacement like this. If they don't know the risks involved, that likely means they aren't familar with this "inside out" system, maybe find some one who is.

4823-8039 crystal gasket: DJ2990B
4823-8039 bezel gasket: 89997850
4823-8039 back gasket: DB2915B
4823-8039 crown gasket: DJ0060B
4823-8039 cell hatch gasket: EH1175B

 

[thscott]

When you say the bezel has to be pushed out from the inside, do you mean that the back of the case has to be opened and the internal parts removed to then push out the bezel? I hope not. I assumed there was some sort of watchmaker tool that clamps around the bezel circumference and is then pulled or pushed to remove the bezel. Clarification would be most appreciated. Thank you.

 

[rileynp]

When you say the bezel has to be pushed out from the inside, do you mean that the back of the case has to be opened and the internal parts removed to then push out the bezel? I hope not. I assumed there was some sort of watchmaker tool that clamps around the bezel circumference and is then pulled or pushed to remove the bezel. Clarification would be most appreciated. Thank you.

Yes, a complete removal of the case back and movement would be necessary to remove the bezel/crystal assembly from the case frame. Afraid it is not as easy as you had hoped. I have seen this exact case reference with irreversible damage done to the bezel and case where some one thought they could pry the bezel off from the outside with a case knife, and kept on trying when they should have stopped. This system does not work that way.